Plants that Love a Shade Garden

Many gardeners feel that they are plagued by excessive shade in their yards. But there are all kinds of shade; you need to determine which type you have before you can proceed to solve your problem. A spot with dappled shade can actually open up a number of planting opportunities for you. Deep shade is a completely different scenario.
Then there’s the issue of what it is, exactly, that’s casting shadows over the spot in question. Believe me, it matters! Planting under evergreen trees is notoriously difficult, because the tree roots sop up any water that’s available as quickly as a napkin absorbs water on a kitchen counter. At least if it’s a building that’s creating the shadow (as when you plant on the north side of a house), you have to worry about light deprivation only (not lack of water, too—unless you’re planting directly under an overhang).

There are more plant choices for partially shaded areas than you might think. One option is woodland plants, which include: Dutchman’s breeches, Jack-in-the pulpit, Hepatica, hosta and dogwoods.

On a more conventional level, many people grow impatiens because they flower in shade. Bleeding hearts on the other hand, are a popular choice because they are perennials.